Red, White and Blue Tribute SS

In a previous post I mentioned that the lower cladding of my Tribute ES was sand blasted by road sand on Oregon's mountain passes last winter.<br><br>Well, I'm getting close to the point wher I'm going to have the cladding repainted, but I wanted to do something more to set my Tribby apart from the crowd ... so I'm thinking about painting it red, white and blue.<br><br>I've posted a mockup of what I'm planning in the photo album for rmwilsonus. Please check it out and let me know what you think ... would it look better if the cladding was painted red, white and blue too?<br><br>Do any of you have ideas for custom paint jobs that you'd like to share?<br><br>Thanks,<br><br>Bob "zoom zoom" wilson :-)

Thanks Bob! That's really interesting on the damaged cladding being replaced under warranty ... do you think that dealers are consistent on this issue? It sure would be nice to get the damaged cladding replaced regardless of what I do with the paint job.<br><br>Also, great tip on blending between the colors!<br><br>Thanks!<br>Bob "zoom zoom" Wilson :-)

While not exactly bad looking, consider that American Motors made Trans-Am Javelins with the same type of color scheme:<br><br><a href=http://www.javelinamx.com/JavHome/basics/70javta1.jpg target=new>http://www.javelinamx.com/JavHome/basics/70javta1.jpg</a><br><br><a href=http://www.javelinamx.com/JavHome/basics/71racejv.jpg target=new>http://www.javelinamx.com/JavHome/basics/71racejv.jpg</a><br><br><a href=http://www.javelinamx.com/JavHome/basics/72racejv.jpg target=new>http://www.javelinamx.com/JavHome/basics/72racejv.jpg</a><br><br>If you used it, you'd have to live with the fact that your Tribute resembled an old American Motors product. Of course, it's doubful whether many would recall the old car, either.<br><br>An alternative scheme might be painting the roof red, the body from the beltline to the cladding white, and the cladding itself blue.

Cool links ... thank! I certainly didn't remember the Javelin, let alone the red white and blue paint. Great historical reminder.<br><br>Bob :-)

It looks awesome! I'd leave the cladding the original color. It enhances the red, white & blue. I wish I could afford to do the same. Hope you can find someone to do a good job. GO FOR IT!!

The Tribute has the colors reversed and looks a heck-of-a-lot better than the Javelin. Keep in mind the Javelin is now a classic and has doubled in value if in good original condition. So don't knock the Javelin too bad.

Thanks murocflyer! I think it looks pretty cool too ... despite the fact that I'm not an "artist" and I made the mockup in MS Paint ... a very simplistic tool. With a good painter doing the work in rich metallic colors it should look great!<br><br>Bob :-)

The Trib would look great!!!!!Definitely go for it and the Javelin- your design is so much better looking!

Hey!!! <br><br>That looks really cool!!! If you decide to do it-I suggest that should be the next pic for our homepage...<br><br>Lily11224

Thanks Lisa! I appreciate the feedback and my Tribby hopes to be a cover car some day soon. <br><br>Bob :-)

Thanks Linda! I'm glad to see the design is having a positive response. I think it's cool and patriotic ... just seems appropriate now. Hopefully it still will in a couple of years.<br><br>Bob :-)

Your picture looked so good, I felt we needed to post it, so all the club members could see it. <br><br>I have been looking for a custom paint and/or decal job for my Platinum ES, and I must admit I really like your idea. Maybe we can get a similar design to yours in scotchlite so it will be light-reflective!

Awesome!!! Thanks Bryan!!! I think the idea of reflective material is great ... maybe the stars could be made from that kind of material so they will shine at night just like the real thing. :-)<br><br>Please keep us posted as you explore options.<br><br>Bob :-)

With the cladding on the bottom if you can have a different composit than base coat/clear coat...try for textured on the areas that had the sand blasted part. By the way, IF you go that way, PLEASE spend the extra money to have it blended and not taped off...the difference will make it look better and will wear better against the elements. As for the cladding if you opt not to go patriotic and stay factory the warranty covered every one of my panels except for the wheel arches and front/rear bumper covers didn't get blasted. The really bad areas were under the front wheel well just under the driver door then up the cladding and across the entire bottom just before the rear door meets the well on the bottom cladding. The door cladding had specks of paint missing....all replaced by Mazda under warranty.<br><br>Good Luck<br><br>Bob "mazda"

Consistency of dealer quality and what is covered and what ISN'T covered has been a pet peeve of mine and one of the reasons I've tried to stay on here and help. I definitely cannot speak for what is and what isn't covered BUT is it normal for a cladding to look sandblasted from "normal Winter" conditions..NOPE in my opinion. The way it came up was I brought it in, showed the Service Manager, not Service Writer and told him it wasn't normal. Being able to do lite off road use would make you "think" such a vehicle should take the urban assualt of a bad road with salt/cinder.....As for the cladding itself painting it will NOT help one bit. When you paint plastic like this it isn't just sprayed...it is coated differently. That is why there is no color code and any painting information on the cladding....it is all replace, not repair. Discuss it with the dealer, let us know what happens. Ultimately I can give you my last eight of my VIN so they can see it does get warrantied by some dealers.<br><br>Bob mazda